Designed to become the first net-zero energy building in the Minnesota State university system, Winona State University’s 77,000-square-foot CICEL consolidates mathematics, computer science, art, and student services into one interdisciplinary academic hub. Developed and designed by McLennan Design (Perkins&Will's Bainbridge Island studio) with Perkins&Will’s Minneapolis studio, the building pairs a compact hybrid steel and mass timber structure with geothermal systems, a high-performance solar roof, low-carbon materials, and integrated stormwater management—all in pursuit of Living Building Challenge 4.0.
Consolidating two outdated buildings also reclaims approximately one acre for native prairie, outdoor learning, and a new campus quad. A limestone facade inspired by the regions exposed bluffs, warm timber in social spaces, and a central collaborative spine create a clear architectural expression: a building that connects disciplines, restores landscape, and makes the university’s climate ambitions visible.